CHARLESTON, WV—  After calling on Governor Justice to veto House Bill 4006, Gayle Manchin was removed from her position as Secretary of Education and the Arts. West Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore released the following statement:

“Gayle Manchin chose to put the people of West Virginia ahead of politics and her cabinet position. She spoke out against a reckless Republican bill that will hurt children, seniors, veterans, West Virginians with disabilities, and disaster response training, and because she had the courage to speak out, Governor Justice removed the only woman serving in his cabinet.

“It’s a shame that Governor Justice, who said he didn’t have a political bone in his body, has become such a hardcore partisan. Justice is now officially the ringleader of the Republican circus in Charleston.

“Justice and the Republicans in the Legislature are trying to turn our state into Washington, D.C. and don’t care if they hurt West Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens.

“Mrs. Manchin took the high road and tried to remove politics from the situation, but the Republicans showed their true colors by putting politics over the people. It’s a sad day for West Virginia.”